Prelim Bits 20-07-2019

NAG missile

• Indian Army has successfully carried out trials of third Generation NAG Missile.
• It is a fire-and-forget, Anti-tank guided missile developed by DRDO.
• It is designed to destroy tanks and other heavily armoured targets.

• NAG has five variants,

1. HeliNa (Helicopter-launched Nag)
2. Land version (with mast-mounted missile launcher)
3. Man Portable NAG,
4. Air-launched version for tactical interdiction aircraft
5. NAMICA (NAg MIssile Carrier), a tank destroyer variant built for the army.

• It is equipped with Active Imaging infra-red (IIR) seeker and millimetric wave (mmW) active radar homing seeker.
• It is all weather missile with a range of 3 to 7 km.
• It is developed under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
• Other missiles developed under IMGDP project includes Agni, Prithvi, Trishul and Akash.

Deworming Programme

• It is an initiative of ‘Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’, to make every child (ages of 1-19 years) in the country worm free.
• It is done through the platform of schools and Anganwadis.
• According to WHO, 241 million children in India are at risk of parasitic intestinal worms called Soil-Transmitted Helminths (STH).
• ‘Helminths’ are transmitted through soil contaminated with faecal matter.
• The infections can lead to anemia, malnutrition, impaired mental, physical and cognitive development..
• Children are most vulnerable as their immune system is not yet fully developed.
• Untreated infections prevent children’s healthy growth, and reduce their capacity to concentrate and learn.
• During Deworming, single dose of ‘Albendazole’ is administered.
• Practices promoted by government to reduce worm infections are,

1. Using sanitary toilets, not defecating outside.
2. Hand-washing, before eating and after using toilets.
3. Washing fruits and vegetables in safe and clean water.
4. Eating properly cooked food.

Solar Charkha Mission

• It is the employment generating venture of Ministry of MSME to train rural people in weaving.
• The looms and spindles will be completely powered by Solar energy.
• It is being implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
• Objectives of the mission,

1. To ensure inclusive growth by generation of employment, especially for women and youth.
2. Sustainable development through solar charkha clusters in rural areas.
3. To leverage low-cost, innovative technologies, boost rural economy etc

• The geographical distribution of the clusters covers throughout the country.
• At least 10% clusters located in the North Eastern Region (NER), J&K and hilly states.

Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY)

• It is to financially support those who lost their jobs and were covered under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948.
• It benefits mainly to formal sector Insured Persons’ (IP).
• It was launched by ‘ESI Corporation’ under ‘Ministry of Labour & Employment’.
• The cash benefit will be of 25% of the average per day earning during the previous four contribution periods.
• It is payable in case of unemployment or during a search for new engagement.
• The scheme will be funded by the employees themselves from their ESI contribution.
• It is to be paid up to maximum 90 days of unemployment once in lifetime.
• It will be applicable to all factories and establishments employing at least 10 workers.

Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project

• It is a gas pipe line project aims to provide piped cooking gas (PNG) to residents of eastern region of the country.

• It also aims to provide CNG for vehicles.
• It is a project under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
• It will pave way for revival of industries in those areas and development of city gas network, generating a large number of jobs.
• The various initiatives to increase the domestic production of crude oil and natural gas which includes,

1. New Domestic Natural Gas Pricing Guidelines-2014.
2. Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy.
3. Policy for early monetization of Coal Bed Methane.
4. Setting up of National Data Repository.
5. Policy for Extension of Production Sharing Contracts.
6. Policy framework for exploration and exploitation of Unconventional Hydrocarbons.
7. Re-assessment of Hydrocarbon Resources.

• The pipeline covers Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam.

Source: PIB, The Indian Express